Azalea plant named ‘Lazamorav’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘Lazamorav’, characterized by its light lavender-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit, and strong multi-seasonal reblooming, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Rhododendron hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Lazamorav’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant botanically known as Rhododendron hybrid and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Lazamorav’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Independence, La. during the spring of 1994. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Azalea cultivars with attractive flower color with multi-seasonal blooming and that perform well in the garden.

The new Azalea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Gumpo White’, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers, light green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is ‘Fourth of July’, not patented, characterized by its dark orange-colored flowers, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during the fall of 1998 in a controlled environment in Independence, La.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since the fall of 1998 in Independence, La. and later in Loxley, Ala. and Irvington, Ala. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Lazamorav’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant:

-   -   1. Light lavender-colored flowers;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage;     -   3. Moderately vigorous, compact, upright-mounded growth habit;         and     -   4. Strong multi-seasonal reblooming.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having strong repeat blooming, a different flower color, and higher growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from the male parent in having a different flower color and reduced growth vigor.

Of the many commercially available Azalea cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Autumn Lilac ‘Robles’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,762. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Robles’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a different flower color than         plants of ‘Robles’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a smaller diameter corolla         than plants of ‘Robles’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of         ‘Robles’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Lazamorav’. The plants were grown in 2-gallon containers for 9 months outdoors in Irvington, Ala. Plants were given one pinch at transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Lazamorav’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Lazamorav’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2007 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in April 2015 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from semi-hardwood stem cuttings from stock plants. Rooted plants, liners, were transplanted into 2-gallon containers utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch at transplant and grown for approximately 9 months outside in Irvington, Ala. under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. Average winter temperatures ranged from 63° F. to 42° F. (17° C. to 5° C.) and average summer temperatures ranged from 91° F. to 72° F. (33° C. to 22° C.). Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrid cultivar Lazamorav. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘Gumpo White’, not patented.         -   Male parent.—‘Fourth of July’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—Approximately 25 to 30 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—Approximately 60             to 70 days.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white in color             becoming light brown with age.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 months from a rooted             cutting to finish in a 1-gallon container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Perennial, evergreen             flowering subshrub; moderately vigorous, upright-mounded             growth habit.         -   Size.—Height from soil level: Approximately 40.0 cm. Width:             Approximately 56.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—One main trunk, freely branching, pinching             improves lateral branching. Quantity of primary lateral             branches per plant: Approximately 8. Quantity of secondary             lateral branches: Approximately 3 to 8 per primary branch.         -   Primary lateral branches.—Strength: Very strong, rigid.             Length: Approximately 33.0 cm. Diameter at midpoint:             Approximately 6.0 mm. Texture: Woody, rough. Color: 200A to             200B.         -   Secondary lateral branches.—Strength: Very strong, flexible.             Length: Approximately 23.5 cm. Diameter at midpoint:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.2 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent, hairs             appressed. Color of young branches: Closest to 151D. Color             of mature branches: N199B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Leaf retention: Very good winter leaf             retention. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Alternate.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute angle to stem, blades extend downward             with age. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute,             mucronulate. Base: Broadly attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate, finely reticulate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 4.0 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             1.8 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely             pubescent, hairs appressed, leathery. Color of upper surface             of young foliage: 137B with venation of 147D or             indistinguishable from leaf surface. Color of lower surface             of young foliage: Closest to 138B with venation of 147D or             indistinguishable from leaf surface. Color of upper surface             of mature foliage: N137A with venation of 146C or             indistinguishable from leaf surface. Color of lower surface             of mature foliage: Closest to 146C with venation of closest             to 151A or indistinguishable from leaf surface.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent, hairs appressed. Color:             146D. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Lazamorav’ flowers in spring from early             March to mid-April and then remontant flowering during             spring and autumn.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Flowers are             durable and long-lasting; depending on the temperature             flowers can last approximately one week on the plant. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, open funnel-shaped,             non-persistent. Arrangement: Terminal clusters of 3 to 9             flowers and buds in whorls, approximately 8 clusters per             plant. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 2 to 3 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Obovoid. Length:             Approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Texture: Glabrous. Color: 70B.         -   Corolla.—Length: Approximately 7.3 cm. Width: Approximately             7.5 cm. Depth: Approximately 5.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube that extends 3.5             cm from the base to the free portions between the upper and             lateral petals and extends 2.0 cm to 2.5 cm from the base to             the free portions of the lower petals, unfused portions             imbricate. Shape: Obovate. Appearance: Velvety. Margin:             Entire, undulate. Apex: Obtuse. Length of free portion:             Approximately 2.5 cm. Width: Approximately 2.8 cm to 2.6 cm.             Texture of upper surface: Glabrous, tube portion densely             pubescent with very short hairs. Texture of lower surface:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface when first and fully open:             77B to 77C with centers of 77D and speckles of 60A on upper             and lateral petals, main color fades to 75A during             senescence. Color of lower surface when first and fully             open: Slightly lighter than 77B to 77C with centers of             lighter than 77D and midveins of upper petals tinted 58B,             main color fades to 77C with senescence.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused at base. Shape:             Narrowly ovate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Length:             Approximately 1.0 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture             of upper (inner) surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower (outer)             surface: Densely pubescent, hairs appressed. Color of upper             (inner) surface: 144A. Color of lower (outer) surface:             Between 144C and 144D.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately             2.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent. Color: 145B to 145C             tinted with 185B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 9 to 10.             Stamen length: Approximately 4.5 to 5.0 cm. Filament length:             Approximately 4.4 to 4.9 cm. Filament texture: Lower portion             densely pubescent with very short colorless glands. Filament             color: 77B. Anther shape: Bilobed, dorsifixed. Anther             length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther color: 77C darkens to             N186A with age. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             NN155A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil             length: Approximately 5.5 cm. Stigma shape: Round, capitate.             Stigma length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Stigma color: N167B.             Style length: Approximately 5.0 cm. Style color: 58C to 58D.             Ovary length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary texture: Densely             pubescent with long white hairs. Ovary color: N137B. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. Garden performance and temperature tolerance: Plants     of the new Azalea have been observed to be very tolerant to rain,     wind and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 7 to 9. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Azalea has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘Lazamorav’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 